Bill McKibben, a climate realist, acknowledges the dire state of the planet due to global warming but sees hope in the increasing use of alternative energy sources like solar and wind power. He notes the significant progress made in countries like China and Australia in transitioning to renewable energy. McKibben emphasizes the importance of shifting away from fossil fuels towards clean energy solutions to combat the climate crisis. The article also touches on the challenges posed by the current capitalist system that benefits from the extraction and distribution of fossil fuels. The shift towards renewable energy is noted, with examples like China exporting more green technologies than fossil fuels, and the potential for a more sustainable and equitable energy future is emphasized.
Tag: China
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PV redox flow battery with 4.2% solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency
Scientists in China have developed a novel anthraquinone-based solar redox flow battery (SRFB) device that combines a solar cell with a redox flow battery, achieving an average solar-to-electricity conversion efficiency of 4.2% under simulated one sun conditions. The SRFB device utilizes redox couples 2,6-DBEAQ and K4[Fe(CN)6] paired with a triple-junction amorphous-silicon photoelectrode, allowing for photo-charging without an external bias and discharge over 10 cycles with a solar-to-output electricity efficiency of 4.3%. This breakthrough paves the way for advanced solar-to-chemical energy conversion technologies, offering new possibilities for sustainable energy solutions.
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CATL Battery Factory in Spain, Lithium Mine in Yichun
CATL, the largest EV battery producer in the world, is partnering with Stellantis to build a new carbon-neutral EV battery factory in Spain with a capacity of up to 50 GWh, creating thousands of jobs and strengthening the European battery value chain. In addition, CATL is expected to restart its lithium mine in China, impacting lithium carbonate prices. The rebound of lithium prices is discussed in the article, potentially leading to lower battery costs in 2026, which is a positive sign for the future of battery prices and the overall transition to sustainable energy solutions.
https://cleantechnica.com/2025/12/24/catl-battery-factory-in-spain-lithium-mine-in-yichun/
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US Misses The Offshore Wind Boat And Aquaculture, Too
The US offshore wind industry faced setbacks under President Trump, but projects in Rhode Island, New York, and Virginia are still moving forward. Chile is emerging as a leader in offshore wind energy, with collaborations with Norway and Denmark. The aquaculture industry in Chile is benefiting from clean power solutions, including offshore wind turbines and floating solar technology. These sustainable energy sources are reducing diesel consumption, lowering costs, and improving working conditions for workers in the aquaculture industry. Offshore wind and solar companies are exploring opportunities in aquaculture, with projects in Chile and China combining renewable energy with fish farming. China's Fuxi 1 offshore facility, powered by wind turbines, can farm multiple species of fish, crustaceans, and algae simultaneously. In Norway, a project is assessing the co-location of aquaculture and offshore wind turbines, with benefits including reduced risk of sea lice and oxygen deficiency for fish health. Research shows that offshore wind farms can enhance ecosystem productivity and create a more complex food web, supporting marine ecosystems. The collaboration between offshore wind stakeholders and the global aquaculture industry is highlighted, with mentions of missed opportunities in the US and new developments in Sweden.
https://cleantechnica.com/2025/12/22/us-misses-the-offshore-wind-boat-and-aquaculture-too-shocker/
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Batteries now cheap enough to make dispatchable solar economically feasible
Utility-scale battery costs have fallen to $65/MWh outside China and the United States, making solar power more reliable. Ember reports a significant drop in battery costs in 2024 and further declines in 2025, making storage more accessible for dispatchable solar projects. The cost of a full utility-scale battery system is $125/kWh for long-duration projects of four hours or more. The levelized cost of storage (LCOS) is calculated at $65/MWh, factoring in various costs and improvements in efficiency and financing. Solar power is now considered anytime dispatchable electricity, changing the game for countries with high solar resources and growing energy demand.
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Q&A: Five key climate questions for China’s next ‘five-year plan’
China's upcoming 15th five-year plan in China will have a significant impact on greenhouse gas emissions, influencing clean energy growth and meeting climate commitments. The plan is crucial for aligning with Paris Agreement goals, setting clean-energy targets, capping coal consumption, and preventing emission rebounds. China faces challenges in meeting its climate targets, with a marked slowdown in carbon intensity reduction. To achieve the required reduction in carbon intensity, China would need to increase the share of non-fossil energy and reduce coal consumption. Policymakers are working on implementing a "dual control of carbon" system to manage emissions and face a choice between slowing down the clean-energy boom or retiring older coal-power plants to address challenges.
https://www.carbonbrief.org/qa-five-key-climate-questions-for-chinas-next-five-year-plan/
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All-perovskite tandem solar cell with dipolar passivation achieves 30.1% efficiency
Researchers in China have developed a dipolar passivation method that reduces defects and improves charge transport in solar cells based on narrow-bandgap tin lead perovskite, enabling the fabrication of all-perovskite tandem solar cells with efficiencies of around 30% and enhanced stability. The dipolar passivation strategy strengthens the ohmic contact, promotes efficient hole injection into the hole transport layer, and repels electrons from the perovskite interface, reducing non-radiative recombination and carrier transport losses. The cell achieved a power conversion efficiency of 24.9% and retained around 87% of its initial efficiency after 1,025 hours, showing promising long-term stability. The researchers aim to further improve the dipolar passivation method for enhanced stability in tandem devices, contributing to the ongoing efforts to develop more efficient and sustainable solar energy solutions.
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Renewables giant China nears peak emissions, Beijingers see mountain peaks for first time in decades
The Global Carbon Project's annual Global Carbon Budget reveals a slight rise in carbon emissions in 2025, putting the world on track to hit the 1.5°C warming limit within four years. China, the world's biggest polluter, is showing signs of reaching peak emissions or plateauing, driven by a unique mix of motivating factors including economic and business advantages from clean energy. The importance of reducing emissions and supporting renewable energy technologies to combat global warming is emphasized, with China's success in decarbonization positioning itself as a global leader in clean energy production. The article warns against downplaying the importance of climate action based on a country's proportionate contribution to global emissions and highlights Australia's transition to renewable energy as an economic opportunity. The overall message is to learn from China's example and take advantage of cheap opportunities for zero emissions energy.
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Crocodile Economics Comes to Africa: Trade, Solar, and the New Energy Map
The global economy is showing signs of decoupling economic growth from emissions, with many countries experiencing a decrease in emissions while GDP rises. China is on the verge of shifting to absolute decoupling, with African countries importing solar hardware on an unprecedented scale. Chinese companies are investing in onshore capacity for solar panels and battery packs in Africa, following the model of industrial migration seen in East Asia. The development of grid-detached microgrids using Chinese solar panels and batteries is accelerating in sub-Saharan Africa, alongside plans for a high-voltage direct-current super-grid to meet the region's growing electricity demand with interconnected renewable grids. Overall, clean-energy investment and the African Continental Free Trade Area are building markets that reward predictability, transparency, and stability, positioning Africa as a more unified major economy on the global stage.
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Musk proposes PV-powered AI satellite network to fight global warming
Space-based solar power developers are advancing technology to capture solar energy in orbit and transmit it to Earth, with several demonstration projects planned for the near future. Elon Musk believes that AI satellite constellation could make small adjustments to prevent global warming or cooling, but there are concerns about the risks and potential consequences of using such technology to control solar radiation. Countries like South Korea and China are already planning large-scale space solar projects to deliver renewable energy worldwide, highlighting the growing interest in innovative solutions to combat climate change.